Florida lady denied tax refund as a result of she was wrongly declared lifeless, she says

As most of us put together to file our taxes, WESH 2 Investigates helps revive an area lady’s possibilities of receiving hundreds of {dollars} in a refund she was owed a 12 months in the past. You may assume the reason being unusual: the Inside Income Service initially denied the refund, claiming that Robin Atkinson, of Mims, had died. So whereas the federal government pays out greater than $1.1 trillion a 12 months in revenue tax refunds to People, Atkinson hasn’t seen a dime of the hundreds she’s owed. I am at my wits finish. I simply do not know what to do, Atkinson stated. Her tax preparation company tried to electronically file the quantity of 2021 taxes she owed: $6,939. That was in February 2022. However the IRS refused to simply accept the return, telling its tax return service that Atkinson was formally listed as now not dwelling. And he did not perceive why. The very first thing Atkinson did was name the IRS. A customer support rep informed her that, in response to their information, Atkinson was lifeless. She was referred to the Social Safety Administration. Over the cellphone, a customer support agent promised to clear issues up with the IRS. An agent there informed her to mail in a tough copy of her tax return and he or she would obtain a refund in 30-60 days. It was final April. She known as WESH 2 Investigates final fall to clarify her dilemma. We reached out to the IRS, the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service and the SSA, searching for solutions and a agency timeline for her to obtain a refund and affirmation that she isn’t deceased, in response to state information. The scenario seemed to be enhancing, with fast responses, however nonetheless no timetable. I’ve been informed so many instances that “the examine is within the mail”. It’s extremely irritating as a result of there are not any checks and balances on this, Atkinson stated. It took 11 months after Atkinson’s probation started for Social Safety to offer written proof that she was alive, writing in January, “The Social Safety file doesn’t present a date of demise for Robin L. Atkinson.” However then he hit one other hurdle on Feb. 7, when he obtained a letter from the IRS saying, “We want an extra 60 days.” I am on maintain and ready, he stated. “Our advocates do their greatest to assist taxpayers resolve their account points as rapidly and comprehensively as potential, however in mild of the quantity of instances we deal with, we’re not all the time excellent,” stated Lindsey Pope. of the IRS Tax Advocate Service. WESH 2 Investigates’ investigation exhibits Atkinson is within the firm of many People who’re combating to get refunds as a result of the SSA has listed them as deceased. Sherry Ellis, of Texas, complained in 2019 that not solely was she unable to obtain her refund, but additionally her SSA checks. You all use a deceased particular person’s social safety quantity on their demise certificates. And I stated, I am not lifeless, Ellis stated. Based on the SSA, of the “2.9 million demise studies obtained annually, 7,000 to 12,000 individuals are (recorded) incorrectly as deceased.” “Lower than one-third of 1 % are subsequently corrected. We’re taking speedy steps to right our information, Patti Patterson of the SSA stated in an electronic mail. To this point, that is not a lot consolation to Atkinson, after coping with dozens of calls to authorities companies for over a 12 months and remains to be ready to get her fingers on the cash owed to her. Inform them I am alive and I might like my a refund! stated Atkinson. What to do if a authorities company of the US studies you as deceased? The easy reply is that the SSA oversees the “Grasp Loss of life File” utilized by most authorities companies. The very best and quickest method to resolve this difficulty is to go to an SSA workplace with a number of types identification, together with a authorities picture ID, to start the method of securing the information.So please replace this story when Atkin son lastly will get his tax refund for 2021. High headlines: Lethal fungal an infection already detected in Florida, spreading at alarming fee, CDC says Relativity House launches 3D rocket from Cape CanaveralFlorida Man wished for homicide dies whereas fleeing Port Orange police